THE RADEBEUL LINE

Now generally a ‘one engine in steam’ operation, the Lößnitzgrundbahn was opened by Saxony’s state railway in 1884.

Since 2004 it has been run by what’s now known as the Sächsische Dampfeisenbahngesellschaft (Saxon Steam Railway Company; SDG), which also operates the 750mm gauge lines from Freital Hainsberg to Kurort Kipsdorf and between Cranzahl and Oberwiesenthal.

From its terminus adjacent to the main line at Radebeul Ost, the Lößnitzgrundbahn at first parallels its big brother for a short distance, before cutting away to run roadside through an area of classic villas. After the halt at Weisses Ross the view becomes increasingly rural – at first wooded and then open country. One particularly distinctive feature on the line is between Friedewald Bad and Moritzburg, where trains run over a causeway across the Dippelsdorfer Teich (lake). These days most services run between Radebeul Ost and Moritzburg (five miles each way) rather than over the whole route. An active support group, Traditionsbahn Radebeul, runs vintage trains on certain dates to complement the regular timetable. It has its own vintage stock, including ‘Saxon Meyer’ 0-4-4-0Ts Nos. 132 (Deutsche Reichsbahn No. 99.1539) and 176 (99.1586). In contrast, regular services are hauled by 2-10-2Ts, based at Radebeul Ost.

See www.loessnitzgrundbahn.de and, for the vintage trains, www.traditionsbahn-radebeul.de Note that the line is closed for engineering works on November 1-19, with replacement buses in operation.

●● With thanks to the SDG’s Kati Schmidt for assistance with the preparation of this article.